Occupiers left the two occupied buildings on Wednesday. The university Pro Vice Chancellor met with student union societies to consider students' concerns, the first time the university has considered the question of policy on Palestine, despite requests in the past before the occupation. The direct action has put Gaza on the agenda at Sheffield University but now the ball is in management's court. If its 'consideration' of the demands raised by the occupiers are dismissed out of hand then more, and larger scale, action will be needed. The student union already has pro-Palestinian policy and the galvanising effect of the occupation means means the solidarity movement is now in a far better position to take up calls for action at general meetings of the SU.

Last night the police were called to the occupation but left again soon after when they found that no crime was being, or had been, committed. Seems like the uni management is in no mood to negotiate and didn't take kindly to the occupation of their pride and joy - the Jessops West Exhibition Centre, which the occupiers have been quick to point out has no teaching rooms or wider academic function. Students at Sheffield University are rallying for Gaza this afternoon at 3pm. Negotitations with the university are still stalled and the student union leadership seems to be sitting on the fence. The rally starts at the Union concourse at 3pm and students and suppoerters will march to the occupied Jessops Centre to hear speakers.

Sheffield students have responded to the management's refusal to negotiate by stepping up their action and occupying the prestigious Jessop building. So it's over to Vice Chancellor Keith Burnett for the next move. The Sheffield students are building for a rally on campus this Wednesday. From Sheffield Uni occupation blog Sheffield University Occupiers: Occupation Spreads to Jessop West! The Occupiers in the University of Sheffield have occupied a new space within the University, namely the exhibition centre in Jessop West, a brand new, flagship building for the university. As the time of press, the original occupation in the Hicks building continues throughout the night. Our reasons for expanding the occupation are as follows: - Threats from the University management to evict students and workers from the original space. - A complete lockdown was instigated, denying free movement for Occupiers and supporters. - To increase pressure on University management after they went back...

The lockdown initiated at the beginning of the weekend by management against the occupiers at Sheffield University has not been lifted. The students are now being denied freedom of access and the management is refusing to negotiate with the Gaza protesters directly. It is not clear what status the occupiers have at pending negotiations between the university and the students union. The occupiers were told last week that they would be able to send a delegation to any meeting. To spread the word on campus on Wednesday a rally is planned for 3pm, followed by speakers from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Jews for Justice, and others. More details at the Sheffield Uni occupation blog Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60028246641

The students ocuppying for Gaza at Sheffield University have been locked down by the weekend. It is thought this act by management may just be for the weekend, but access to the occupation has been blocked. Food parcels are being allowed at the door. Earlier in the week management agreed to open negotiations but a date for a meeting has still not been set. The occupiers have elected a delegation to meet the University management.

Sheffield University management is opening negotiations with the student union and the occupiers. The occupation is sending a delegation to the talks between SU sabbatical officers and the university. The Vice Chancellor and one of his Pro-Vice-Chancellors met with seven members of the Union of Students Executive this morning and agreed that lines of communication should be re-established with the University of Sheffield student body over the issues raised by a number of different interest groups concerned with events in Gaza. More at the Sheffield Uni occupation blog

Some Jewish students at Sheffield University have set up a Facebook group opposing the occupation. Jewish students actively supporting the occupation have responded: Jewish occupation activists respond to Sheffield J-Soc The Secretary of the University of Sheffield Jewish Society today released a statement on a Facebook group set up to oppose us expressing the feelings of vulnerability and harassment felt by some Jewish students towards our occupation. The text of this statement is viewable at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/topic.php?uid=60170581533&topic=9766. Below, Jewish activists within our occupation respond to the statement. We are writing as Jewish activists from within the occupation in response to fears and concerns expressed by J-Soc. Although we regret any feeling of victimisation on the part of any Jewish student, or any student of another ethnic minority, we wish to make it entirely clear that our occupation is unambiguously opposed to anti-Semitism, which we...

The occupiers need your help... Given university management's intransigence, we are asking all Sheffield students, workers and other supporters of the occupation to send the following model email to Vice Chancellor Keith Burnett at vc@sheffield.ac.uk . CC to email to Rowann Sharples, his personal secretary, at r.sharples@sheffield.ac.uk , and CC us in at sheffieldoccupation@googlemail.com . You can also ring Rowann Sharples on (0114) 222 1006. More at the Sheffield University occupation blog

From the Sheffiled University Occupation blog We are writing to you from inside a student occupation which began this evening in the Hicks building. We have peacefully taken control of two lecture theatres (5 and 6) on Floor E and are running them safely as democratic, student-run spaces. We have done this in protest at the failure of university management to continue a process of negotiation over the university's response to Israel's recent attack on Gaza. As student activists and members of the University of Sheffield community, we call on the university to: 1. Issue a statement condemning the disproportionate actions of the Israeli state against the Palestinian people. 2. Create a special programme of five Palestinian scholarships and waive all fees for current students from the occupied territories. 3. Enter into an academic partnership with the University of Gaza. 4. Donate old books, computers and other relevant equipment to the University of Gaza, and pay for...